TRANSIT DISTRICT WORKING TO IMPROVE RIDER EXPERIENCE THROUGH ENHANCED SECURITY and EXPANSION OF METROBIKELINK

The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) Board of Trustees continues to work to improve the rider experience in Southwestern Illinois. At the April 16 Board meeting, they approved two contracts to continue to improve service for all riders and residents.

The board approved two contracts to improve the rider experience. The SCCTD Board awarded a contract to 303rd Engineering Group LLC to prepare an evaluation of all 14 MetroLink stations in St. Clair County for enhanced LED lighting. This would provide enhanced security at all Illinois MetroLink lots, the Illinois Bus Facility, the 29th Street train yard in East St. Louis and the SCCTD Park and Ride Lot.

In addition, the Board awarded Hank’s Excavating and Landscaping, Inc. a $1,426,315.44 contract to construct the extension of the MetroBikeLink Trail from Memorial Station to Fairview Heights Station. This 3.5 mile trail has historic roots in the community as the economic engine of Southwestern Illinois from the late 1800’s through early 1900’s with access to many of the area’s coal mines. The trail will follow the old CSX rail alignment and Schoenberger Creek through hills and hollers of the Dutch Hollow area of Belleville and Fairview Heights. This section of trail connects to the other 11.5 miles of MetroBikeLink for a total of 14 miles of paved trails along MetroLink. The SCCTD invested in bridges over the busiest streets, so there are only 7 at-grade roadway crossings in this entire distance, making it family friendly. It also connects with the first phase of SCCTD’s new Orchard Loop Trail – a 3 mile path to Eckert’s Orchard.

“We are excited about the future of transit in Southwestern Illinois, and we are focusing our efforts to ensure the system continues to serve our region efficiently, effectively and safely,” added Simmons. The St. Clair County Transit District is also working to add several bus shelters along heavily utilized routes with community partners, has placed new trash receptacles at O’Fallon bus stops through a partnership with the City of O’Fallon, and recently underwrote three new transit patrol vehicles for the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.